Jeremiah 35

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35:1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 35:2 Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
35:3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 35:4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: 35:5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
35:6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: 35:7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
35:8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 35:9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: 35:10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
35:11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
35:12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 35:13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
35:14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
35:15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
35:16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 35:17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
35:18 And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 35:19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.


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Everything King James Bible:Jeremiah

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Jeremiah
Book: Jeremiah
Chapter: 35

Overview:
The obedience of the Rechabites. (1-11) The Jews' disobedience
to the Lord. (12-19)

1-11 Jonadab was famous for Wisdom and Piety. He lived nearly
300 years before, 2Ki 10:15. Jonadab charged his posterity not
to Drink Wine. He also appointed them to Dwell in tents, or
movable Dwellings: this would teach them not to think of settling
any where in this world. To keep low, would be the way to
continue long in the land where they were strangers. Humility
and Contentment are always the best policy, and men's surest
protection. Also, that they might not run into unlawful
pleasures, they were to deny themselves even lawful delights.
The consideration that we are strangers and pilgrims should
oblige us to abstain from all fleshly lusts. Let them have
little to lose, and then losing times would be the less
dreadful: let them sit loose to what they had, and then they
might with less pain be stript of it. Those are in the best
frame to meet sufferings who live a Life of self-denial, and who
despise the vanities of the world. Jonadab's posterity observed
these rules strictly, only using proper means for their safety
in a time of general suffering.

12-19 The trial of the Rechabites' constancy was for a sign; it
made the disobedience of the Jews to God the more marked. The
Rechabites were obedient to one who was but a Man like
themselves, and Jonadab never did for his seed what God has done
for his people. Mercy is promised to the Rechabites. We are not
told respecting the performance of this promise; but doubtless
it was performed, and travellers say the Rechabites may be found
a separate people to this Day. Let us follow the counsels of our
pious forefathers, and we shall find good in So doing.